About Us

Universal Symbol for Colorectal Cancer  

The Coalition's mission is to educate the public and key stakeholders about the opportunities to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer through maintaining screening and care options for patients and their clinicians. 

 

Coalition Background & Purpose

The Coalition is comprised of gastroenterologists, surgeons, primary care physicians, oncologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, ancillary providers, patient advocacy groups and concerned employers and payers working to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by enhancing patient screening and care options.

The Coalition is concerned with the increasing number of insurance providers attempting to implement policies that will negatively effect the efficacy of colorectal cancer screening outcomes by limiting deep sedation options to patients. Hundreds if not thousands of Americans would likely stop or delay their regular colonoscopies if they did not have a deep sedation option. In addition, not all patients can be sedated with moderate sedation.

The Coalition Board stands united against any policy that might restrict the gastroenterologist, anesthesiologist or colorectal surgeons-directed or administered use of sedation choices that have a proven track record. We plan a sustained effort of advocacy, education, collaboration, and research to establish the public policy consensus on the importance of patient and physician choice that is necessary for long term sustained improvement in colorectal cancer screening.

On behalf of the Coalition Board, we want to communicate our significant concerns regarding the growing number of insurance providers who have proposed new policies that would reduce anesthesia services for routine gastrointestinal endoscopy.